Bottle cap



May 3, 1966 R. KoMlNoTH 3,249,249

BOTTLE GAP Filed Jan. 31, 1964 INVENTOR. ,G9570 KO/14 /A/O7' /9 3,249,249 BOTTLE CAP Reto Kominoth, 403 Bouret St., Santurce, Puerto Rico Filed Jan. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 341,543 1 Claim. (Cl. 21S-46) This invention relates to bottle caps, and more particularly to an improvement in bottle ycaps of the type used on soft drink bottles and the like, namely, of the type having a crimped rim flange engaged over the bead on the top end of a bottle. Y

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bottle cap which is simple in construction, which provides a tight seal, and which may be easily un-fastened by the application of downward manual force applied to a localized portion thereof.

A further object of `the invention is to provide an improved Ibottle cap -which canl be removed or opened Without requiring the use of a bottle opener or similar implement, the bottle cap being inexpensive to fabricate, being neat in appearance, and providing an efficient and reliable seal.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle cap which may be installed on a bottle by the use of conventional capping machinery and which may be removed either yby the use of a conventional bottle opener or by hand without requiring the use of such an opener. n

Further objects and advantages of the invention w1ll become apparent from the following descriptiony and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of bottle cap constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of thebottle cap illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken centrally through the top end of a bottle provided with a' FIGURE 3, and showing the bottle cap of FIGURE 5 mounted on the top end of a bottle.

' FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a further modified form of bottle cap according to the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 7.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 4, 11 generally designates one-form of bottle cap constructed in accordance with the present invention. The bottle cap 11 comprises a generally circular top wall having a depressed upwardly convex central portion 12 and provided with a crimped rim flange 13 which merges with an upwardly convex annular marginal portion 14. The top wall is weakened along an arc concentric therewith and extending along the periphery of the depressed lcentral portion 12, for example, by being slit through at 15, 1S on opposite sides of a relativelysmall uncut portion 16 which is easily frangible. The larc de- -fined by the cut portions 15, 15 and the small uncut int'ermediate |portion 16 is greater than a semicircle but is substantially less than a full circle. Thus, the above-described arc defines a generally circular tab 17.

The rim flange 13 and the annular peripheral top Wall portion 14 are slit through, as shown at 19 and 20 to connect with the ends of the arcuate slits 15, 15, the rim ange s-lits 19 being substantially vertical, for example, extending along the base edges of corrugations 21 of therim flange.

The tab 17 is integrally formed with an upstanding, gen- United States Patent O erally U-shaped reinforcing corrugation 22 having substantially straight divergent side legs, the slit portions 20, 20 being located substantially symmetrically on opposite sides of the generally U-shaped corrugation 22. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the arms of the corrugation 22 extend through the peripheral annular rim portion of the tab 17, Aso that the tab 17 and the rim portion with which it merges are rendered substantially rigid because of the stiffening effect of the U-shaped rib or corrugation 22.

In use, the cap 11 is secu-red on the top bead 24 of a conventional bottle 25 by a conventional capping machine, a suitable deformable sealing gasket 26 being provided on the bead 24 beneath the cap. To open the cap, it is merely necessary to exert firm downward yforce on the tab member 17, whereby'the small uncut portion 16 is broken, disconnecting the tab portion from the remainder of the cap, and allowing the tab portion to be depressed, for example, to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, whereby the tab portion 17 and associated segment of the crimped flange are rotated to an upwardly and outwardly inclined position. The rotated portion of the cap maybe readily removed, if so desired, or may be allowed to remain in the position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 4, since the contents of the bottle may be easily poured therefrom under these circumstances. The sealing gasket member 26 is preferably of relatively soft, easily tearable deformable material, such as soft plastic sheet material, so that it can readily be cut by 'the edge of the tab member 17 When the aforesaid downward forceis applied to the tab member, causing the tab member to be depressed.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the cap is designated generally at 11' and has a substantially flat top wall 12 which is provided with the concentric arcuate slits 15', 15' similar to those provided in the previously described form of the invention, the slits 15', 15' extending on opposite sides of a relatively small uncut portion 16', and the combined arcuate length of the slits 15', 15 and the portion 16 being greater than a semi-circle but substantially less than a full circle, whereby to define a tab-17'. The crimped rim flange of the cap 11' is formed with slits 19', 19' located adjacent the ends of the slits 15', and may be either connected to the slits 15 by slits or by merely scored or weakened bends 30', the typical embodiment of FIGURES 5 and 6 showing the top ends of the slits 19' connected to the adjacent ends of the slits 15 by scored bends 30' extending across the marginal portion of the top wall 12'.

Formed integrally in the top wall 12' within the tab 17' is a generally U-shaped upwardly convex stiffening rib or corrugation 22' having outwardly diverging side leg portions which are located substantially symmetrically on opposite sides of the center line containing the portion 16. Thus, the slits 19', 19' are symmetrically located on opposite sides of the generally U-shaped reinforcing rib or corrugation 22'. The `side legs of the corrugation 22 terminate a short distance inwardly of the crimped rim ilange 13 of the cap.

As in the previously described forrn of the invention, a deformable soft sealing gasket 26, for example, of tearable soft sheet plastic material, is provided between the cap and the top bead 24 of the bottle 25 on which the cap is used, and the cap is opened in the same manner as described above in connection with the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4, namely, by applying iirm downward finger pressure on the tab 17', which causes the limited section 16' to be broken, allowing'the remainder of the -tab to be depressed to an upwardly and outwardly inclined position, similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 4 in connection with'the previously described form of the invention. The scored bends 30', 30', which are in alignment, act as hinges, allowing the tab 17' to be rotated downwardly, and the rotated portion of the cap may be easily detached, if so desired, because the scored l portions 30', 30 will be easily broken.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the cap, designated generally at 31, has a depressed upwardly convex central portion 32 which is provided with a substantially U-shaped corrugation 22, similar to that provided in the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 4. The top wall is weakened along an arc concentric therewith and located at the junction of' the annular concave peripheral portion 14 of the cap and the depressed upwardly convex center portion of the cap, as

shown at 33, the weakened or scored arc 33 being greater than a semi-circle but being substantially less than a full circle, whereby to define the frangible tab 32. The crimped rim flange 13 of the cap is slit, as shown at 34, 34 at locations adjacent to the opposite ends of the score grooves 33, and the slits 34, 34 may be connected to the score grooves 33 by aligned grooves 35, 35 which serve as hinge elements, as in the case of the modification shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 and which may be easily broken to allow the tab to be detached after it has been depressed.

As in the case of the previously described forms of the invention, the cap 31 is employed with a sealing gasket 26 which is readily tearable when the tab 32 is depressed, providing access to the interior of the bottle 25, thereby unsealing the bottle 25 and allowing its contents to be dispensed.

As inthe form of the invention shown in FIGURES l to 4, the generally U-shaped corrugation 22 provided on the tab portion 32 has outwardly divergent, substantially straight side arms which extend through the annular marginal top wall portion 14.

The slits formed in the crimped rim flange of the cap in any of the above described forms of the invention, namely, the slits 19, 19I or 34, may either extend vertically or may be inclined downwardly and laterally at any.

desired angle.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved bottle cap have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications Within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A bottle cap comprising a generally circular top wall provided with a crimped rim flange, said top wall being cut through along an arc concentric therewith and spaced inwardly from its periphery, said arc being greater than a semicircle but substantially less than a full circle said arc having a small uncut center portion, whereby to define a frangible tab movable downwardly responsive to pressure applied thereto from above,l said rim flange and the marginal portion of said top wall outwardly of and adjacent the ends of said arc being slit to facilitate upward movement of the portion of the rim ange opposite said arc when said tab is moved downwardly by such pressure, and a generally U-shaped, reinforcing corrugation formed integrally in said tab and having the legs thereof .diverging and extending over the marginal portion of the top wall opposite the arc, the slits in the marginal portion being located substantially symmetrically on opposite sides of said U-shaped corrugation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,242,604 10/1917 Schmitt 21S-46 2,709,019 5/1955 Powell 215--46 3,118,556 1/1964 Amato et al. 21S-46 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. 

